Fledglings cocoon, we're Flying in June ... .

[SansCollier]

Welcome to the June 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

Feel free to park your mops and buckets here from the 1st of the month!

This is where we attempt to declutter our homes and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy barftastic language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation (and of course) along the way.

More info available here, here and here.

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. (Some of us are still stuck at the decluttering stage after quite a few years ):

1 - repeat or start baby steps (again!)

2 - repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

3 - reinforce babysteps and/or do daily missions

And those of you who have decluttered and are really enthusiastic can throw some detailed cleaning in to the mix as well!

The idea is that we focus on short, ring-fenced, daily bursts of activity (steps and routines) that will help our homes run (more or less!) on "automatic pilot" allowing us to do far more interesting things instead!

This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees welcome!

Helpful pointers: No perfectionism allowed! If it took a while to create the current C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) in your home, then it will probably take a while to reverse the situation (you can't clean clutter!). Small steps are the key! And you are never behind: just jump in where you are at!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

Confession-as ds was asleep I used opportunity to catch some zzzzs also rather than do some chores
Not sure if I feel refreshed or more tired!!
Lunch then I will fly like the wind maybe

Like the wind or with wind? I guess it depends what you eat for lunch.
Beans beans, good for your heart. The more you eat the more....
yep probably lost the plot entirely this time. Going to blame the steroids

Bum, just written long post and lost it! But, fwiw,

Zoo a bit of cinnamon in the drip might work as well? So sorry to hear your dd2 is still feeling so poorly, poor lad. Hope meeting goes well tomorrow!

Afreshstart that is a ridiculously unprofessional way of your employer to behave. Either they can't accommodate it, and they tell you straight, and give you legitimate reasons as to why not, and offer a plan as to how they might be able to do so in the future, or they accede to your request. Being "off" or "stroppy" is just not on. No wonder you are pissed off.

Hope your ds is ok Einstein. Very sultry, heavy weather here too with rain but air still not fresh ifsywim.

Thank you for the encouraging words Cotswold and Rosa! I tend to get a bit "Eeyore-ish" when it comes to this house and decluttering; and agree it is important to stay positive! After all, there are worse things in the world ... .

Rosa power to your elbow in the playroom today!

Cotswold I'm afraid if you are standing still in our house, you get put in the dw! I do absolutely everything in it (even things that shouldn't strictly spking go in) but you sound much more conscientious than me! Good luck with the end-of-term mania!

This morning has not been good. Was rung up by the school's "educateur" at 7.50 am asking us to come in to the school by 8.30 am because we hadn't signed and returned dd's report. This was news to me because we usually get the report on the last day of term (ie tomorrow). Turns out that is not the case in the final term and without going in to details, dd had been keeping some quite serious details from us. We have another meeting tomorrow. Suffice to say I am cross, disappointed and ruddy furious with her atm. I have never seen dh so angry in his life (when he is meant to be resting) I genuinely thought he was going to explode! So not exactly a peaceful morning ... .

Today I am trying to (a) not have a stroke or heart attack because I am so bloody too and (b) sort dd's washing for camp next week and (c) making a lentil curry thing (d) finishing over-deadline work. Feel like climbing under duvet and hiding but needs must and all of that...

On the positive front: lovely fortnightly ironing lady turned up and got to all the awful strays at the bottom of the ironing pile purely because I hadn't done any new washing for her to tackle.

Keep going everyone!

Sorry, took me so long to write all that - what with various interruptions - that I missed the last few posts

Einstein hope the meds kick in and sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather Here's to a speedy recovery!

Zoo very dangerous to mention the word "nap" to me right now. I have just stress eaten a tpp-large sandwich for lunch and my duvet is calling. I feel wretched if I nap during the day though. Hope you feel refreshed eventually!

Good luck with the meal planning Cotswold! And that sounds a bit isolating where you are. Have you lived there long? (Don't answer if you don't want to.) There are loads of people about during the day here and in the office of course but I rarely run in to friends unless the meeting is planned forensically which can be a bit of a pain.

Oh ds is fine. its just he is a boy and there are trees to be climbed, slopes to slide down and rip your trousers on. It is good healthy old fashioned activities. I have long given up worrying about him and bruises

Sorry dd has been keeping serious secrets. You do have to wonder if they actually consider the fact that you will always find out and the consequences will be worse. I know the answer if that they don't. But it does make the whole situation so much worse. I do hope that you can resolve the situation without murder too much stress

Ah yes, the healthy rough-and-tumble outdoor type of bruises! Dc don't have enough of them nowadays!

And thanks re: dd. Not fair to her to put details on here but boy; that is exactly it, do teens never consider that lies will always be found out and will come back to back them (and their parents) on the bum three-fold? Felt such an idiot at the school - they probably now think we (a) stupid or (b) can't be bothered - which rankles rather!

Heigh ho, must stop ranting and go and dissipate my angst among the washing piles!

Angry cleaning is best most productive kind sc.we having issues dd2 at school(socially more than educationally) and when her tutor rang me last week it seem I am not be told a fair few things(sigh)
Parents if teens,I think,are kept in dark and fed sh** but like mushrooms we still power forwards
Nowt wrong large sandwich (says she who just eaten huge barm filled tuna,crisps,mr Kipling lemon slice AND a bar of chocolate)

Tadas
Lunch(burp,flicks crumbs onto floor in needs sweeping)

Empty kitchen bin
Put some recycling into boxes outside
Wipe surfaces(carefully dodge kettle pile avalanche)
Wipe hob
Wash in dryer folded n put away
Another load in dryer
Another in machine to wash

Now for some cleaning in this weeks zone....

BTW Einstein like the wind.
although I am known for my flatulicious burping.blame a white Tictac addiction for that

hope the afternoon is a little less dramatic sc

ta da
bathroom scrubbed
clothes put away upstairs
wash done and in dryer
spent a mere 15 mins in the playroom, dd2 is not playing along today, today I concentrated on clearing surfaces (yesterday was floor) and half of the pit actually looks habitable now! It won't be fully decluttered but it may actually be tidy by the end of the week!

to do
a chicken stir fry effort for tea
ironing
more on the playroom if I can

Thanks Zoo that has made me cackle! It is the deceit/loss of trust that has got to me the most. I know, as you say though, that 14/15 is a very secretive age! It's just not very nice being a mushroom !

Arf at flatulicious

And congrats re: your list! You've done loads!

Off to do some angry cleaning ... ! And consider whether it is worth all this struggle and whether to bugger off back to uk ....

Thanks Rosa and well done re: your productive morning. Also [doffs hat] respect for your plugging away at playroom every day, even when it is not easy, with a little one in tow!

Tbf SC school have generally seen most issues before. They are well aware the lengths that children will go to hide things. And ime it is how the parent deals with the situation in the meeting to bring it to attention and afterwards that they judge. There is a kid in ds' school where the parents never go to parents' evening, don't care how many times the child is excluded and just claim the child is not academic and will be fine as an adult. That is the kind of parent who is judged not the one who is shocked and horrified to discover the deception. Schools know and understand even if they won't stand for the situation. iyswim.

I do hope that dd comes to her senses and you can get the situation resolved yes I have my hunches as to what has happened Good luck to you and DH with the dealing and handling. ps if you need to come hide here you will be welcome

Thanks Einstein yes I have still not started the washing I may take you up on that . in return!

Wise words as ever that very much help to put things in to perspective. I am sure you are right about the school's position. And I know I need to take a deep breath and step back and ponder a bit before tomorrow's meeting.

Also - I want to apologise to all the fledglings on here - as I seem to have had some sort of personal drama on this thread almost on a daily basis this month ! So sorry everyone! Life as an expat can be a bit stressful at times but I didn't mean to veer so widely off the Flying mark! The support is much appreciated though .

Right, Mt Washmore here I come!

To do:
triage laundry
fold towels
feed wms
fill dw
shine sink and clean kitchen surfaces
walk furry
make veggie curry
'work' work
print out list for dd camp and start assembling on spare table
query to monitrice about one of the items
tetanus jab check and find date
payment to camp
contact mother of one of dd's friends about arrangements night before camp
buy better inflatable mattress than our existing pancake variety

sc I'd offer you a place to hide,but you hide in amongst our clutter we may lose you forever!!

Tadas
3hot spots sorted in front room,during which located missing council tax bill and realise payments are behind and court order due be issued tom!eeek.rang and grovelled a new payment arrangement...
Washing out dryer(add dry towel really does speed up drying time!!)
Folded put away
Time pickup lil zoo!!
Then it's a systems are go go go organising early tea as its girls brigade to night and we take lil zoo friend do need collect her,plus dd2 has a craft/music event event at school and needs be returned fed by 6pm(be care drop her,then GB drop on way back,returning fir GB pick up 730,dd2 at 8)
No rest for wicked. Zoo must be a very very very very naughty girl!!

Ugh, I was just coming on to vent about schools myself - DD ended up without a piece of equipment today because I'd stuck to the timetable they'd given me AND asked them about changes yesterday She's had a teacher this year that has done the absolute bare minimum at everything as well - as an adult I have always been sympathetic to the idea of a slightly jaded teacher as I do think it's a tough job, but now my own DD has had a year at the sharp end of it I am thoroughly hacked off!

Surprisingly DD has taken it quite well - this sort of thing used to totally ruin her day - so that is a real bonus. I don't know why I've taken it so badly myself (I felt quite tearful ) but sometimes it's the minor things that push you over the edge! The amount of stuff that is being rescheduled at the moment is unreal, I am counting down the days to the end of term!

SC I hope you are both doing OK. So frustrating and the loss of trust is probably so much greater than anything she's actually done/not done

DD has started walking in to school on her own, so I leave her at the gate and then go shopping/home. I do wait inside the school at home time but if I don't have anything planned for the day I do spend it on my own There's always t'internet ...

It is one of the reasons that I am enjoying high school with ds. His high school don't change a lot of things at the end of the year and there isn't really any 'fun' days. As a result the worst behaviour has been a complaint about a 2nd english exam paper for end of year exams he had this week and him 'suddenly' remembering he had homework at 6am... couldn't be arsed and then thought better or it more like. It is so much more pleasant than the 8 weeks of screaming, meltdowns and issues we had at the end of term for primary.

Now if i could only convince him laundry needs to be put out to get washed and I don't have a limitless supply of plasters...

Cotswold how old is dd?I often don't see anyone if I don't pop into community cafe to weigh in the food drops.as dp don't "live in" I can go days without adult to talk to unless you count chat shop assistants in supermarket((saddo alert))
Tadas
Got lil zoo
Dd2 come in whining throat hurts-carrot and swede soup for her with swirl smooth nut butter at the end and ice lolly.lil zoo had fish fingers and veg mash.
Last wash dry n put away
Living room floor and kitchen floor swept
Her friend cancelled on us fir g.b so dp just took dd2 off her school even.much less frantic than I'd expected

On school theme I've made decision apply change primary for lil zoo.requires us go on a waiting list but its time.school relations are breaking down.I don't trust them.they lie to me and lil zoo.she only enjoys being with her friend.as she lives round the corner and attends GB with her that's still maintainable.

I haven't caught up on the thread sorry - totally in the haughty corner , suspected mastitis AGAIN and we were so nearly finished with breastfeeding anyway! Totally wiped out and have achieved nothing (except buying a new sofa oops).

I haven't had any adult conversation today either! This thread is my adult conversation sometimes!! Hope everyone doing ok and I really will try and catch up soon once the kids are in bed.

Oh foxes!
You poor thing.
I know what you mean about it thread us your adult conversation!!

Wow just caught up and there are lots of things happening! Really hope everyone ok!

I'm just sitting in the living room which is covered in toys , I really have to force myself to ignore it all and rest , dh is now battling with the children and I'm going to feed DS and get him to bed then hopefully dh will have a quick tidy and I can start eating ice creams and chocolate mousses. I really want a massive bar of chocolate but don't feel I can ask dh to get one for me...he has only just got home and has been thrown in at the deep end without so much as a "how was your day dear?"

Oh and thank you zoo much appreciated!

Oh no, poor you Foxes. You have been so unlucky with mastitis, it must be so painful and debilitating. Make sure you rest up well (and don't feel guilty). [Hands over special dispensation for toy clearing in sitting room.]

Oh dear, sorry to hear your dd2 is suffering again now too Zoo. I am sure this sultry weather doesn't help as far as ear/throat infections go. I hope the school change goes as smoothly as possible for you! And that you have survived your busy afternoon/evening. Very impressed by how you are able to serve different choices of meals when you have so much else on!

Cotswold hope your day improved as it went along. I so agree that sometimes it can be the small things that push you over the edge! Wishing you strength for the rest of the term! And some .

Einstein agree that secondary school is much calmer in terms of fund-raising events and various fun days etc (although our house was not a particularly good demonstration of "calm" today!). It's just the academic wrangles/exams/general worry that are the testing! I don't miss the end-of-term mass batch bakes though!

Agree with everyone that it is very nice to be able to "chat" on here. The problem with living abroad is that, one by one, your friends start disappearing back to their own countries ... .

Big wing flaps to everyone else!

Ta da:
triage laundry done
fold towels done
feed wms done
fill dw done
shine sink and clean kitchen surfaces done
walk furry done
make veggie curry done
'work' work NOPE
print out list for dd camp and start assembling on spare table done
query to monitrice about one of the items done
tetanus jab check and find date ¨done
payment for camp done
contact mother of one of dd's friends about arrangements night before camp NOPE
buy better inflatable mattress than our existing pancake variety NOPE

To do:
undone items above (except I won't be working tonight)
tidy up supper things
sort overnight washing and drying

Day ended a bit calmer than it started. Feel better that I have done some healthy cooking and a bit of Flying. And we have all agreed on a moratorium on any contentious issues until tomorrow morning's school meeting, so are currently engaged in a slightly uneasy and over-polite truce

Links coming up!

G'night all!

***

The summary for Thursday 29th June is available on the Flylady website here under "Today" and via the flight plan which should update itself automatically on a daily basis.

Baby-step no. 29 for Thurs 29th is here. It introduces the weekly pamper mission and reminds us that it took Flylady nine months to establish her routines, and that anything we do today is better than it used to be!

We are in Zone 5 this week : The Living Room, Den, Family Room (June 25-30) here.

Spend 15 mins decluttering the current zone.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list for Zone 5 (if you are at that stage) is here.

Thursday's mission is a detailed hoovering session in sitting room.

The daily focus for Thursday is running errands.

The monthly habit in June is drinking water.

Daily reminders (which should also update automatically) are here.

Well done everyone for keeping Flying along!

***

"slightly uneasy and over-polite truce" Ah yes this. It is a weird atmosphere. Good luck with tomo's meeting SC

Ds has gone into hiding in his room for fear he will be asked to do something. I am painting 3 of the walls in his room it is a very odd shape and composed of about 8 walls in total this weekend so there is prep work to be done. Tbh i am not in the mood for being productive so am also in hiding in my room

ta da
horrify ds with my tea of toast and marmite is it wrong this makes me feel accomplished?

foxes hope you feel better soon